Voith and Franka Emika Form a Strategic Partnership

The technology company Voith and the Munich-based robotics company
Franka Emika have entered into a strategic partnership.

Part of the strategic partnership is the establishment of a new joint
venture called Voith Robotics – A Voith and Franka Emika Company. The
company, with headquarters in Munich, is to become a global system
supplier for robot-assisted automation in the digital age. Voith
Robotics will offer self-teaching lightweight robots made by Franka
Emika, along with software solutions, apps, services and process
consulting, to customers in various industries and markets throughout
the world.

As part of the strategic partnership Voith will also have a direct stake
in Franka Emika, thus emphasizing the long-term and strategic commitment
by the two companies to cooperation. Martin Scherrer, formerly a member
of the Board of Management of Voith Paper, will be the new chief
executive officer of Voith Robotics, which is to be managed by Voith.

The still very young market for collaborative robots, also called
cobots, currently has a volume of some 300 million euros and is
predicted by industry researchers to grow exponentially in the coming
years. The global market volume is expected to come to about 15 billion
euros by 2025. Franka Emika is a leading designer and developer of
powerful, self-teaching and easy-to-use lightweight robots. They will
make it possible for the first time to automate repetitive and often
monotonous tasks like finely controlled fitting, screwing and joining,
as well as testing, inspection and assembly.

In 2017, the team from Franka Emika received the German Award for
Innovation in Science and Technology from President Steinmeier for
developing “Panda”, the first highly sensitive, self-teaching
lightweight robot. In addition to being applied in industry, these
robots may someday assist people in their everyday lives or help with
tasks like elder care. The robot series “Panda”, in combination with
robot-apps and customized services, will be the future core products of
Voith Robotics. The company will offer platform- and
manufacturer-independent robotics and automation solutions.

The joint venture will be presented for the first time at Hannover Messe.

“By bringing together a young company with its unique product portfolio
and an experienced, family-owned and world-wide engaged company with a
global network, we are creating a role model for Industry 4.0,” says Dr.
Simon Haddadin, CEO of Franka Emika. “We will be able to offer customers
throughout the world a combination of exceptional services and support,
based on unique technologies.”

“Through its strategic partnership with Franka Emika, Voith has taken
the logical next step in its digital agenda. We have defined robotics as
a key competence and intend to add it to our existing portfolio,” says
Stephan Schaller, President and CEO of Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA. “Franka
Emika and Voith complement each other in an ideal manner by combining
robotics, artificial intelligence and digital apps for users in various
target markets with our know-how in automation and processes.”